Robin visits the church I'm getting married in!

Robin and a church
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Yes folks, this is the church in Athens where I'm getting married in February. It's the same church that my fiance's parents married in in 1974. The fact I've been out there is one of the reasons I haven't updated in ages (sorry). The other reason is that I've been super-busy - I've already spent 24 hours in Lyon, France since I got back to London from Athens on Wednesday. Busy busy busy. So busy I forgot to take Robin to Lyon. Sorry folks. Sorry Robin.

But the wedding stuff is coming on nicely (thanks to those that have asked). The church is booked as is the reception (after a last-minute change caused by a stunningly awful refit at the (previously classy) place we'd booked - pink fur everywhere and walls upholstered in shiny silver fabric!). And tomorrow I'm off to get measured up for my suit. Less than 3 months to go now. Exciting stuff. Nice to be back in Athens too - there wasn't too much evidence of the Olympics, just a front page in a newspaper saying how much it had cost and a few shops with reduced merchandise! Felt odd to go past the stadium complex on the metro train - would love to have stopped off for some water polo or some athletics!

Here's a funny thing for you folks that read during the Olympics. On the site - flickr.com - where I store my pictures to use on this site, it tells you how many times each picture has been clicked on to make it bigger (cos that takes you through to their site). Most pics from the Olympics have been clicked on 100-160 times, the one of me and my fiance 190 times, but the only one that's been clicked on over 200 times - in fact 1,200 times! - is the one of... can you guess?... yes! Robin and the beach volley babes!

:)

Robin enjoys Bonfire Night!

Whizz! Bang! Robin!
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Hello folks.

This is Robin enjoying the fireworks at the Guy Fawkes celebration at Alexandra Palace in London.

For those readers who don't know what Guy Fawkes Night (aka Bonfire Night) is, it commemorates the day Mr Fawkes from York (where my dad lives) tried to blow up the Houses Of Parliament in 1605 by placing lots of barrels of gunpowder in the cellar (which is why it's also known as The Gundpowder Plot).

Unfortunately for Fawkes, the plot was discovered and he was caught on November 5 1605. Naturally not best pleased with his behaviour, the King decided to hang, draw and quarter him.

Every year since then, Brits have celebrated Fawkes' failure by letting off fireworks and, often, burning an effigy of Fawkes on a bonfire (hence Bonfire Night).

(This is actually quite educational for me too - had to look for a lot of it online, but obviously every schoolkid in the UK knows the story backwards!).

So, we went up to Ally Pally last night with thousands of north Londoners and had a great time - it's quite a major, organised display and the fireworks were very impressive (better than the ones that have been set off every night for the past few weeks on every street in Britain by pesky teenagers which just go 'weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.....BANG!' rather annoyingly).

Bonfire Night rocks - you can keep your Halloween which seems to be built around its tacky merchandising. One of the great things about Nov 5 is that the only things shops can sell are fireworks and perhaps some bonfire toffee. So, as a celebration, it's pretty much exactly the same as it was 20 or 30 years ago.

The bird in Budapest

Bird baths
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Hey up

Sorry it's been a while since I last posted. After I took the Kylie pic - which I'm glad you liked - I've been super duper busy at work, with a few days' holiday squeezed in the middle.

The picture above was taken on those few days' holiday, in Budapest with my fiance, my best pal Simon and his girlfriend Ruth. We went from last Saturday until this Wednesday night and had a really cool time. Here are my off-the-top-of-my-head highlights (in no particular order)

1. Szechenyi Gyogyfurod es Strandfuro baths
This is where the picture was taken, an amazing complex of baths and thermal pools, built in about 1920. As well as the hot outdoor pools, there were plenty of saunas, steam rooms and eggy sulphur pools Inside the buildings you can see behind Robin. Great place for a relaxing day out - and only cost about four pounds (seven dollars).

2. The 6-3 Bar
Not a particularly nice bar, but it was named after a football (soccer) game in 1953 when Hungary became the first team to beat England at Wembley. I like that 50 years on a little pokey bar commemorates that.

3. All the other bars
Cheap, good beer is hard to argue with, especially in cosy, stylish places. Some great restaurants there too.

4. Our flat
We stayed in a flat in the centre of Pest, which very much confirmed my theory that self-catering and having your own space beats hotels everytime.

5. Buda
The place is called Budapest because it's made up of two places either side of the Danube - Buda and Pest. We stayed in Pest, but had a lovely time up in Buda, which is like the old town, with a pretty castle etc. Funnily enough the only pest we met the whole time was in Buda - some loopy fella who was desperate to be our (paid) tour guide and didn't like to take no for an answer. He said 'Allow me to say one sentence more...' at least five times. We just wandered off eventually.

6. The cake shops
There are some amazing cake shops in Budapest. Okay, so they do like to put goose fat and cabbage in an alarming number of their pastries, but the sweet cakes are superb. And again, extremely cheap (30p/50c will buy you a properly amazing chocolate cake).

So, there you go, the highlights of an ace few days away - can really recommend a visit if you ever get the chance.

Hope you folks are all well and sorry for not posting for a while.

Robin meets Kylie!

He should be so lucky
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

No, your eyes do not deceive you, today Robin met the woman who closed the Sydney Olympics. The woman who's sold around 40 million records in a really rather successful career. The woman most of the world has had a crush on at some point or another. And the woman who thought Robin was so cute that she let him stand on her head.

Kylie Minogue, for posing with Robin (and for being a thoroughly pleasant woman) we salute you!

Robin attends GB Olympic parade!

A Robin among pigeons
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Yes, several months after the Olympics finished and we all came back to the UK, the British athletes finally got their victory parade today.

Floats carrying all the medal winners from the Olympics and the Paralympics went through London and ended up in Trafalger Square, where we went to see them.

The BBC were broadcasting the whole thing live and they went through batches of different athletes on the big stage, showing highlights and interviewing them.

Although the crowd gave nice cheers to the rowers, the relay squad, Kelly Holmes and all the rest, to be honest the whole thing felt a wee bit flat. Perhaps cos it was Monday lunchtime. Perhaps cos it all went on quite a long time. Or perhaps because it was such a long time ago that they actually won their medals. Still, nice to go along and wave our little flags at some of the folks we last saw on podiums in Athens (and, let's face it, we couldn't not go - having made it all the way to Athens, a few hundred metres from my work is nothing!).

Robin's lunch-break adventure: Pt 1

Robin goes down the tube
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Yes, this is Robin's three part lunch-break adventure, which we've just returned from.

This is a picture of him at Tottenham Court Road tube station, where we went to catch the underground train to get the picture of Big Ben (which, you'll remember, got most votes).

But it's just a boring tube platform I hear you say. No, no dear readers. This, I believe, is the very tube platform where something nasty happens in 'An American Werewolf In London'. Luckily, Robin looks tough, so nobody bothered him.

Robin's lunch-break adventure: Pt 2

Robin. Big Ben. Parliament
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

So having waited seven blummin' minutes for a tube (seven blummin' minutes is a long time to wait for a tube) we made it to Westminster station, which looks right out on Big Ben.

Sorry it's a bit dark (even with the camera's over-exposure turned up), but that's the weather in London today. Cold, dark and rainy. Brrrr.

Obviously pub quiz fans will point out you can't actually see Big Ben, because Big Ben is the bell, rather than the tower. But, hey, you can see the tower holding it, and the Houses of Parliament and even a traditional red London bus (which are being fazed out as we speak).

Robin's lunch-break adventure: Pt 3

Eye Eye Robin!
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Directly behind where we took the Big Ben picture is the London Eye or the Millennium Wheel, depending on what you want to call it.

Robin was feeling a bit chilly by this time (and the rain was rainin' even harder), so I made him put on his woolly hat. Doesn't he look smart?

Once we'd taken the pictures we walked back along Embankment to the station there, came back on the tube and typed all this up - all within a lunch hour! Don't say I don't put the effort in for you folks!

Apologies for lack of picture! Excuse!

Mornin'

Yes, I've not put a picture of Robin up for a wee while now, but I do have an excuse. I've been feeling a bit under the weather this week, which culminated on Tuesday night with my body taking it upon itself to make me throw up frequently and violently for around 8 hours. Not nice. Guess it must've been one of those bugs that the London Underground seems so effective at spreading. But I'm feeling a bit better now and am back at work (with lots to catch up on). So, Robin picture will be up very soon. As will a wedding update. And various other bits and bobs. As soon as I've got all this work out of the way...

Bring. On. The. Weekend.

Robin London shoot delayed!

Yes, I'm afraid the Robin photo shoot scheduled for today has had to be postponed until Monday. I have several excuses...

1. I'm dang busy at work.

2. Debate still seems to be hotting up and so we need longer to decide. It's currently:
- Big Ben 4
- Traf Sq 3
- Buck Palace 3
- London Eye 1

And last but not least...

3. I forgot to bring Robin with me today.

Oops. Sorry. But get your votes in if you haven't all ready done so!

Robin London pic voting hots up!

Quick update for you on the voting for the where-I-should-do-a-picture-of-Robin-in-London voting (to save you the effort of having to click on the comments on the post below).

Five votes in.

2 x Big Ben
2 x Trafalger Square
1 x Buckingham Palace
0 x Picadilly Circus, London Eye, Victoria Station

Oooh, you could cut the excitement with a knife. Even a blunt one. Who will the winner be come Friday lunchtime when I shall venture out to take said picture in my lunch break? One of the above is ten minutes from my office, others rather further - but I'm looking for a fair contest, so I won't tell you which...

Get those votes in on the comments tab on the post below (hmm, so it looks like you'll have to click on it after all...)

Robin goes to Italian footie! But where will he go in London? You decide!

Robin Italian style
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Hey up

Yes, our hectic jet-setting lifestyle continued this weekend (honestly, we're not always like this) when we flew to Italy, a present I gave my fiance for her birthday in July.

We went to Treviso on Saturday, a beautiful little town about 20 miles from Venice, also with waterways through the town, but not jam packed full of tourists (Venice is nice, but once is probably enough).

Then, on Sunday we took the train up to Udine, where we went to see Udinese play Juventus, one of the best football teams in the whole wide world! The fella on the ball in the background is Trezeguet, just one of a number of world-class players they have. We ended up in the Juventus end (Lex got a five euro discount just for being female!) and Robin kept up his winning mascot record - Juve won 1-0.

And now back to London where debate is hotting up as to where Robin should have his first London picture taken. So, now I want you to vote. And here is the shortlist:

1. Big Ben
2. Picadilly Circus
3. Buckingham Palace
4. Trafalger Square
5. London Eye
6. Victoria Station (for Vix)

So, get your votes in the on the comments form below (easiest way is to click on Post Anonymously). And on Friday lunchtime I'll go and get a pic of whichever one's got most votes.

Robin gets an Eiffel!

Ah, le Robin!
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Yes, me and Robin took the train across from London to Paris yesterday afternoon - the trains are amazingly handy, gets you there in well under 3 hours without any of the hassle of long checking in times and all that airport gubbins.

As you'll see, we got up early for a wander around Paris and to get a nice shot of the tower before we came back to London. Wasn't the nicest day in Paris but it's a lovely, relaxing city to be in, even when you're only there for a few hours.

I notice they've got posters everywhere gathering support for their 2012 Olympic bid. London is bidding too, but it isn't nearly as obvious. I've still yet to really decide whether I firmly support London's bid or not. Obviously having the Olympics was great for Athens and it ends up being good for every city, but there just seems to be such an apathy about it among Londoners that I'm not sure we deserve it.

I think New York's a strong bid, particularly as they've never had it, but the fact US TV isn't showing any of the Athens Paralympics might be held against them, as they'll need to convince the IOC they want the Paralympics as much as the Olympics.

Oh, by the way, Vix wrote to point out that I haven't taken any pictures of Robin in London yet. Any of you got anything you'd particularly like to see him pictured by?

Robin and Robyn!

They love each other like sister and brother
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Yes, with Robin back in Britain after his jaunt to San Francisco, he spent the weekend catching up with his sister Robyn (for who my Mum had created a special new haircut!). This picture was taken at Burton Albion v York City football/soccer match.

Although York - my team - have had an awful start to the season in the lowest league they've played in for 80 years, I saw them win 2-0. We've only won three games out of 10 this season, and the two I've been to have both been victories. Last season, I saw 11 games and only one win!

In fact, Robin has only ever been to two York City games and his record is
Goals for: 5
Goals against: 0
Wins: 2

Not surprisingly a few of the long-suffering York fans were hoping he'll be coming again soon!

For now, though, he's got more travelling to do. Another country tomorrow - this time a little bit closer to home and this time with me (rather than my fiance). Watch le space...

At last! The promised picture!

Robin the Frisco kid
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Yes folks, here's the picture that you've all been waiting for (well, at least 3 or 4 of you). It's Robin in San Francisco! Yes, there he is, trying to catch a tram to take him to the shop where you can buy flowers to put in your hair (or feathers).

My fiance was out there with work on a quick trip which involved flying to Sacramento too (a 19 minute flight from San Fran!). She didn't get too much time to look around either city, but with us both having been to San Fran in the last few months (particularly keen long-term readers may remember my trip) we'd quite like to go back for a proper holiday having had a taste of what looks like an amazing city.

Robin liked it too. Since he's got back he keeps cheeping things like 'far out' and 'dude' and 'cosmic'. He's currently sitting in his room with some joss sticks listening to The Grateful Dead. I'm sure it's just a phase...

STOP PRESS: Dawn has written a comment to this post saying that the picture doesn't show a tram, but a trolley car. Apologies - rings a bell now you say it. I believe tram is the word we use for trolley car over here. If anyone who's familiar with the culture on both sides of the Atlantic does know of a difference between a trolley car and a tram, speak now or forever hold your peace...!

Wot no picture of Robin

I know, I know. I promised a picture of Robin in a far-flung destination (or I guess near-flung if you happen to live thereabouts), but I've yet to post it. That's because I've yet to receive it. Latest news is that my fiance has - repeat has - taken the picture and the delivery of it is expected any time soon. I know these are trying times for all of us. We want to see the picture. We want to know where Robin is. But we must be strong. Good things come to those who wait. As do pictures of cheery-looking birds.

Be strong. Be alert. Be nice to old people. Be there or be square. Be equals bemcee squared.

Lazy Sunday. Golf. Wedding. Other stuff...

Robin. In bed. With radio.
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Hey up folks.

Welcome to my lazy Sunday afternoon. Robin's sitting in bed listening to the last day of the Ryder Cup which has just teed off (it's only on pay TV, so we're listening on the radio). Can't believe how well we (the only time anyone in Europe ever says 'we' for the whole continent) are doing against the US. Be a great victory if we keep this lead. But I'm counting no chickens just yet.

So it seems the posting about the 1906 Marriage With Foreigners Act was just what you were after. And I'm proud to say that if you search for that act on Google, this is the only site that comes up! Hurrah. I can see us getting hordes of new visitors through that one!

Got lots of comments to the post too, but I'm afraid I've had to delete them. Thing is my mum posted up the link to the info site for my wedding which is meant to be just for people that are coming (my fault for not telling her this!). Obviously most of you would be very welcome to read it (that certainly includes you KJ!), but our guests will be posting personal details on there (where they're staying, time they're arriving etc) so, sorry, but we decided to keep it private.

But don't worry, the plan isn't for me to post about the wedding on there - that's what this site is for! So you won't be missing anything very exciting. All my pre-wedding thoughts will be on here (though I'm still not sure why you're so excited to read about it).

So, I should deal with the comments that got deleted. Ginger pointed out that it's meant to be Japanese people in the hills that don't know WWII finished, as opposed to Americans (a straw poll at work confirmed this). She also asked for a pic of Robin at the Register Office. Sorry, I was too shy to take him. Next time...

Another pic request came from KJ who wants to see Robin with my Mum (she being Sarah/typical Mum) - no probs. Reckon we might be able to sort that one next weekend when I'm at home (and, of course, Robin's sister Robyn lives there too!)

Cathy asked if I managed to make it along to any of the 9/11 memorial events when I was in NYC. Sadly not. I really wanted to, but having arrived back from Philadelphia on the Saturday morning at 10am, I literally had to sit in my hotel room working until about midnight, when I went to bed. Then got up at 6am to go to the airport to catch the plane home. Would've liked to see the twin beams of light, especially. Ah well.

Meanwhile, Diegem in Belgium asked if we have to give a blood sample before the wedding. No, don't think so. Don't think that's ever been the rule here (though, hasten to add, I've not been married before!).

So what's new on the wedding? Well, apart from setting up the (infamous) website for guests this weekend, we've been sending out some pre-invitation invites, just so that people know the details and can book their flights. It's a really great feeling that so many people are coming out to Greece for us. It's only 150 days (or so) away now. Exciting times.

Last but not least, the Paralympics have obviously started in Athens this weekend. Would love to have been there - saw bits of the Opening Ceremony online and it looked great, packed stadium too. And GB have already won quite a few golds - we came second in the overall medals table in Sydney and we look like being there or there abouts again.

Actually, there's talk of a parade of gold medal winners from both Games in London once the Paralympics. You can bet your rice pudding me and Robin will be down the front for that one!

Right. Best go. Robin's off on another jet-setting trip tomorrow (this time with my fiance) so keep an eye out to see where he lands this time...

ps. hope you like the new random picture bar thingy at the top - ah, happy memories!

1906 Marriages With Foriegners Act

Hey up

So, I'm still getting 100+ visitors to this site a day, even though the Olympics are long-gone. Problem is, I'm not quite sure what to tell you next. Maybe you're like those folks in America who live in the hills that don't know WW2 is over. Hmm, but then again, you need the internet to look at this site and that's a pretty good way of keeping up with the news. Maybe you're all Robin addicts. Must say, he's walking with quite a strut since he got back from NYC. I think he thinks he's John Travolta at the start of 'Saturday Night Fever' (but without the tight trousers and with wings).

So, in the absence of anything Olympics-related to tell you about (although the Paralympics do start in a couple of days) I thought I'd let you know that, as of this morning, I have complied with the 1906 Marriage With Foreigners Act, by visiting Haringey Register Office in north London. There, I set the wheels in motion that will get me a 'no impediment' form to take out to Athens to show the Orthodox folks that I'm not married already, in order that I can marry my fiance there in February. So, assuming no one in the Haringey Registry Office area who likes to peruse the forthcoming marriage notice board knows something I don't, I'll get the form in 21 days. Think the plan is to take it to Athen late in October sometime.

Is that interesting? Is that the sort of thing you're coming to this site for? Or is just the Robin pics? Hard to say really. But thanks for coming. I may be baffled by your visits, but I appreciate them very much all the same.

Robin hits the Big Apple!

He's an English bird in New York
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Yes folks, this is Robin in Time Square in NYC, where I've come with work for a few days.

Lots of Olympic advertising up around the place still and I saw a chap at a gig last night wearing an Athens 2004 official T-shirt (ah, brought back memories) but that's about as Olympic as the trip's got so far.

I've been over here a few times, but this is Robin's first time in the big apple where. after a couple of rainy days, the sun has finally got its hat on today.

I was meant to be getting Saturday off - which means I would've been able to go and see GB's Tim Henman in his first US Open semi final - but sadly now I've got to work. Hey ho. Guess that's what happens when you're on a work trip rather than a holiday. Well done Henman though - hope he makes the final (it's a long shot - he's playing Federer).

Robin was obviously most excited about coming to Gotham because it meant the chance of meeting his namesake hero. But, alas, as yet, we've yet to run into Batman and his tight-trousered assistant...

Blog gets 15,000th visitor! Robin off on new adventure!

Hey up

So, yes, sometime around midnight on Monday night, we got our 15,000th visitor - and you're still turning up in good numbers to read the blog. Very heartening, Thanks very much. I may even set up a new competition just so that you have a reason to keep in touch on the comments pages (you're all very quiet on that front)! I'll have a think for a question.

Plus, me and Robin are flying off on a new non-Olympic adventure tomorrow lunchtime. Look out for some fantastic tourist shots of Robin coming in the next few days...